AETC welcomes new commander

Published Oct. 10, 2013
Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Gen. Robin Rand took command of Air Education and Training Command from Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr. during a ceremony here Oct. 10.

Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Air Force Chief of Staff, presided over the ceremony.

Rand previously served as the 12th Air Force, Air Combat Command, commander. He is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, including 470 combat hours. Rand has held multiple flying tours, served as an air liaison officer with the U.S. Army and has had staff tours on the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense and Air Staff.

As the new AETC commander, Rand is charged with recruiting, training and educating America's Airmen through innovation. With an assigned force of more than 60,000 active-duty Airmen, Reservists and civilians, AETC trains and educates more than 300,000 American and International students each year on bases throughout the country.